BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    



                                                                  AB 1901
                                                                  Page  1

          CONCURRENCE IN SENATE AMENDMENTS
          AB 1901 (Ruskin)
          As Amended  August 2, 2010
          Majority vote
           
           ----------------------------------------------------------------- 
          |ASSEMBLY:  |63-0 |(May 28, 2010)  |SENATE: |33-0 |(August 5,     |
          |           |     |                |        |     |2010)          |
           ----------------------------------------------------------------- 
            
           Original Committee Reference:    HIGHER ED.  

           SUMMARY  :  Codifies several findings and declarations contained  
          in the report "Appreciating Our Past, Ensuring Our Future:  A  
          Public Agenda for Public Higher Education in California" by the  
          Joint Committee on the Master Plan for Higher Education (Joint  
          Committee), and establishes Legislative intent that the work of  
          the Master Plan for Higher Education (Master Plan) review  
          committees be used as a guide to higher education policy.

           The Senate amendments  delete the Assembly version of this bill,  
          and instead codify, in the existing Education Code section  
          addressing legislative efforts to review the Master Plan, the  
          most recent effort by the Joint Committee and the intent that  
          the work of Master Plan review committees be used as a guide to  
          higher education policy.
           
          EXISTING LAW  declares legislative intent that the continuous  
          planning process for the Master Plan includes a legislative  
          study of California postsecondary education at 10-year intervals  
          and continuous planning by a state commission including a  
          five-year plan updated annually. 

           AS PASSED BY THE ASSEMBLY,  this bill codified the specific  
          findings and declarations of the Joint Committee, including that  
          California needs a system to provide clear, concise statewide  
          goals or outcomes for higher education attuned to the public  
          interest of the people; California's higher education system  
          should be accessible to all eligible California students;  
          California's higher education system should be accountable with  
          increased efficiencies both fiscally and programmatically and  
          with a focus on completion and results; and, California needs a  
          sound financing mechanism aligned with statewide goals to ensure  
          that the state's higher education needs are met.









                                                                  AB 1901
                                                                  Page  2

           FISCAL EFFECT  :  Unknown.  This bill has been keyed non-fiscal by  
          Legislative Counsel.

          COMMENTS  :  The Joint Committee, established pursuant to ACR 65  
          (Ruskin), Res. Chapter 106, Statutes of 2009, was created to  
          review the Master Plan and create a framework to ensure that  
          higher education continues to thrive.  The Joint Committee has  
          held several informational hearings conducting a needs-based  
          assessment of higher education in California.  This bill  
          recognizes the Joint Committee and acknowledges the work of the  
          Joint Committee in a manner consistent with prior Master Plan  
          reviews.  


           Analysis Prepared by  :    Laura Metune / HIGHER ED. / (916)  
          319-3960

                                                              FN:  0005433